The bathtub is clogged, what to do to remove the clog

A clogged drainage system entails a lot of inconveniences: a decrease in the efficiency of the sewage system, the danger of flooding, and much more. We will tell you what to do if the bathtub is clogged, what to do if dense blockages from hair and scale form, and how to clean the pipes with home remedies.

Traditional methods of cleaning the bath

The easiest option that can be done if the bathtub is clogged is to spill the drain with vinegar and baking soda. At best, this method will help dissolve some of the blockage, at worst, nothing will change. To prepare the solution, you need to take an equal amount of vinegar and soda (for example, a glass) and boil the water. Then follow the instructions:

1. It is necessary to shut off the water and remove the siphon. Clean it with a rag or detergent;
2. Soda is poured into the pipe, after which vinegar is poured into the same. For maximum reaction efficiency, pour the vinegar in a thin stream. As soon as you hear a hiss, set a timer for 30 minutes. On average, the reaction lasts exactly half an hour;
3. After the complete cessation of boiling in the pipe, it must be spilled with boiling water. It is also important to fill it with a thin stream, without high pressure. After completing all actions, install the siphon and turn on the water. If the flow normally leaves through the drain, then the blockage is removed.

There is a more effective way, albeit a longer one. It is necessary to turn off the water at night and fill the pipe with salt and soda, taken in equal proportions. Pour at least 2 liters of boiling water into the drain immediately afterwards. After 8 hours, it will be possible to check whether the blockage has been removed or not. If you don't want to wait a long time and measure the proportions of kitchen products, then you can simply buy a chemical pipe cleaner. They are able to dissolve not only soap scum and scale, but also hair and even polyethylene.

This option is good if the outlets are clogged due to soapy residues or grease. If a small blockage of a different kind has formed in the bathroom, then you can easily get rid of it with a simple plunger.

This is a special tool with a handle and a rubber cap. If you place the plunger over the drain hole, a vacuum forms inside the rubber cap. Due to the change in pressure inside the pipe, the blockage changes its position. In this case, there is a high probability that the debris will pass into the large pipe.

How to clean a pipe in a bathroom with a plunger:

1. It is necessary to close the overflow hole, otherwise the pressure drop will be insufficient;
2. The handle should be perpendicular to the bottom of the tub, and the rubber cap should be positioned over the drain hole;
3. It is important that the center of the plunger is above the center of the drain - this will allow better pumping of the drains;
4. It is necessary to slowly push the handle several times, as a result of which the rubber tip will "flow" into the drain. These movements will help move the blockage.

But the plunger only handles minor blockages. If the tub is clogged with hair or other problematic waste, then it won't help. In this case, it is more advisable to use a plumbing cable. With it, you can do it yourself with your own hands to clean the pipes from almost any blockage.

There are different types of ropes:

To clear the blockage in the bathroom with a cable, you will need to prepare. First of all, the siphon is removed. Firstly, when cleaning it, it can be damaged (especially plastic models), and secondly, without removing it, it will not work to clean the pipe.

Step-by-step instructions on how to clear a blockage in the bathroom using a cable:

1. The rope has two ends. One of them is clamped in the hand, and the second (with a blunt end or a hook, depending on the type) is inserted into the pipe. In order not to damage the walls of the sewer outlets, the cable must be scrolled with a handle;
2. As soon as the cable hits a blockage, the spin becomes harder, more effort is needed here. But you must not push on the cable, otherwise there is a possibility of piercing the walls. In addition, it is advisable to make sure that you hit the trash, and not the bend of the pipeline;
3. If the cable has a hook at the end, then you need to turn it several times in one direction, then in the other and remove it from the pipe with slow rotational movements. With the right action, there should be debris on the hook that has caught the device. It is recommended to repeat this action several times;
4. After rotational-translational movements, the remains of the litter are pushed into the sewer.

To consolidate the result, the pipes are additionally rinsed with hot water. First you need to send a small stream into the outlet, then increase the pressure. This will help clear away any debris on the sidewalls.

Professional ways

Sometimes it happens that none of the home methods are suitable or there is simply no desire to remove the blockage in the bathroom on your own. Then you can resort to the services of professionals. The most common plumbing service is hydrodynamic flushing. It is carried out with a special device that removes almost any blockage with a high pressure of water.

Advantages of hydrodynamic cleaning:

1. Speed. The bathroom can be used immediately after the end of the procedure. For example, after dry cleaning, it is necessary to withstand from 2 hours to 8 (remember the method with salt);
2. Security. Even the largest flow of water will not damage the inner parts of the pipes. What's more, the liquid will neatly fill all knees and transitions. The cable, if turned incorrectly or with excessive force, can damage even brass branches;
3. Versatility. In this way, you can get rid of hair lumps, soap and fat build-ups, scale. Simply, depending on the type of blockage, different techniques are used.

Pipes can be spilled with hot and cold water. Hot is most often used for metal bends (removal of build-up of soap, minerals, etc.). The cold one is used in most cases for plastic bends and for pushing hair and other solid waste into a wider opening of the sewer network.

Of course, professional companies also widely use mechanical cleaning with cables. These can be both mechanical and automatic devices. In them, the pressure force is adjustable (unlike non-professional hand ropes). This allows you to play it safe against cracks in the pipes and ensure efficient operation.